The makeup brush cleaning hack experts warn you should never use if you want them to last

They get swiped all over our faces and dipped time and again into product and back onto our skin, and yet, makeup brushes rarely get cleaned as often as they should. But it’s worth finding the time to clean them because they are collecting a lot more than just your blush and eyeshadow. 

Cindy Gunawan, Associate Professor at the Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, told nine.com.au that, at the very least, not cleaning makeup brushes leads to “patchy uneven makeup application”.

“Makeup brushes can collect bacteria and fungi, as well as dead skin cells, skin oil (sebum) and dirt,” she said. 

“Using dirty brushes transfers this build-up to our face. This can lead to skin irritation, bacterial infections (staph), acne, as well as eye infections (for eye brushes), in particular in individuals with sensitive skin.”

So how often do we need to clean them? Gunawan’s recommendation differs depending on the brush and where it’s used.

“Lip brushes [should be cleaned] after every use; these readily collect dead cells, saliva, and are therefore a potential breeding ground for bacteria in moist environments. Cream/liquid products (foundation, cream blush) [need cleaning] once a week or more often for sensitive skin,” she said.

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“Powder products (setting powder, blush) [should be cleaned] once a fortnight/month. Makeup sponges [need cleaning] once a week at minimum and need to be replaced after one to three months. Eye brushes [should be cleaned] ideally every one to two weeks; eyes are prone to infections (pink eye).”

Former makeup artist and beauty content creator Amelia Singson gave a blanket recommendation depending on whether they’re used for business or pleasure.

“Professionals who use them on clients should clean them between clients. For personal use, in a perfect world you’d clean them with a brush cleaner after every use but realistically, they should be cleaned at least once a week,” she said.

Since makeup brushes need regular cleaning many are resorting to a TikTok-famous hack that cleans all your brushes in one go and can be done while you wash your clothes. But this trick may be too good to be true with experts warning it could ruin the brushes, and it can’t be good for the washing machine either.

“I’ve seen this, and I wouldn’t recommend it,” Amelia Singson, former makeup artist and beauty expert, told nine.com.au. 

“It seems like the easier option, but it’s a fast way to shorten the life of your brushes. Long-wear makeup can get really embedded into the bristles, and a washing machine may not actually remove all of it.

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“You don’t want to be soaking brushes all the way up to the ferrule (handle), as this can loosen the glue and eventually cause shedding.”

As for the washing machine, the makeup that does come off could leave your clothes stained and your appliance filthy.

“The impact on washing machines is more the makeup residue, oil, dyes that may not fully leave the drum, causing colour and oil transfer on the next load, getting caught up in the day to day build up of pipes, waste drains and drum,” Nicole Gibson, laundry expert from Soka Australia, told nine.com.au.

“The issue is you [shouldn’t] use an enzymatic laundry detergent to clean these, so it’s not going to clean and wash away during the cycle very effectively, leaving build up and residue which can then be transferred onto clothing. Team that up with a hot water load, and you are facilitating a stain that is going to be difficult to remove.”

So the best way is still cleaning makeup brushes one by one with water and shampoo, dishwashing liquid or a specially designed brush cleaning product. For a budget-friendly option, Singson is a fan of Sunlight soap, which is $4.80 for a 500g pack at Woolworths.

Alcohol-based sprays are easy to use on the go and to clean brushes quickly, but Singson doesn’t recommend it as your sole brush cleaner because “over time they can be drying on delicate bristles”.

To clean brushes, Gunawan recommended these steps:

1. “Under warm running water, rinse the bristle tips – be careful not to soak the handle, as water can loosen the glue.
2. Put a small amount of mild soap on our palm, then gently swirl the bristle on our palm to make lather, this should loosen the debris in the bristle. 
3. Rinse under running water, until the water is clear.
4. Squeeze out excess water with a clean paper towel.
5. Lay flat to air dry completely; be careful not to put them upright, as water can go into the handle.”

As for makeup sponges, Singson said they are “designed to absorb liquid so they get really filthy, but they’re so easy to clean”.

Here are the steps she recommended:

1. “Soak your sponge in warm water, add a little cleanser and gently squeeze and massage the sponge until the makeup comes out. 
2. Rinse and squeeze underwater until it runs clear.
3. Leave it somewhere clean and well-ventilated to dry.”